Pharmacists are included in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs), a set of programs established by the U.S. Congress and designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into research careers.

In exchange for a commitment to conduct biomedical or behavioral research funded by a nonprofit or government institution, NIH will repay up to $70,000 of student loan debt per 2-year contracts through the programs. One of the eligibility requirements is a doctoral-level degree, such as a PharmD.

Applicants can choose one of five NIH extramural LRPs: pediatric research, clinical research, health disparities research, contraception and infertility research, or clinical research for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

LRPs will begin accepting applications on September 1. Visit www.lrp.nih.gov for details and instructions on how to apply.